Bowhill Duathlon – Short

We express the course length in expected time taken as actual distances are meaningless off-road. Climb, surfaces, technical difficulty, weather, snow (!) and mud are all more important. So, please don’t ask for the course distances! (though for reference, the Long is approx 12km MTB plus 9km Trail Run).

Back again for its 17th year, this is a very popular series of low-key, back-to-basics off-road Duathlons in the Scottish Borders. Originally held at Glentress Forest, the series moved, with great success, to a new home at the fantastic Bowhill Estate near Selkirk in 2012.

What better way to motivate your training over the dark winter months, test your progress, or simply have good muddy, wet and snowy fun.

Singletrack path – medium descent (muddy) and flat (good) to begin, then into off-camber section with exposed roots. Path levels out, but small obstacles including roots, mud, and a slippy timber bridge.

Red

5.5 – 6.2

Variable (but generally) good twintracks. Muddy in places, narrower in sections (e.g. on small climb alongside the ‘vista’. Small steep climb onto road at end.

Blue

6.2 – 6.5

Tarmac estate road

Notes:

The IMBA/FCS grade descriptions generally refer to man-made trails at trail centres etc. The natural trails that Durty Events use are significantly more varied and dynamic, and can change markedly from moment to moment. A course that is described as largely ‘Blue’ can have occasional ‘Black’ or other grade sections.

Natural trails can change dramatically according to weather and other conditions. Mud, for example, can develop quickly, and will have significant impact on technical difficulty and ‘rideability’.

These gradings, and the course descriptions, should therefore be treated with a certain amount of caution – they are guidelines and approximations only.

*All stuff subject to change – it’s entirely possible that I’ll find a new bit of gloopy mud or stupid hill to send you through/up whilst marking the courses, or if I just have a sadistic turn. In which case the actual course may bear little resemblance! 🙂

*All stuff subject to change – it’s entirely possible that I’ll find a new bit of gloopy mud or stupid hill to send you through/up whilst marking the courses, or if I just have a sadistic turn. In which case the actual course may bear little resemblance! 🙂

Event Detail

Organisers

Anyone familiar with the series seems to love it, and keeps coming back for more – this will be the 17th year we think – gluttons for punishment!. The format is usually Mountain Bike followed by Trail Run, sometimes the other way round. What the races always are though is muddy and a bit hilly. Trust us, Bowhill will CERTAINLY not disappoint in either of these departments!.

They’re very newcomer friendly and relaxed, but also offer a stiff challenge if you’re wanting to try and go quick, or keep your racing/fun motivation going over the winter months. The series is set up for all sorts – newbies to internationalists, triathletes, runners, bikers, and people who just like to do ‘stuff’. Come and have a go.

The Bowhill Duathlon Series will be located at Bowhill House and Country Park, just outside Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. From Selkirk Rugby Club, head west on the A708 (towards Moffat) for approx 2miles. At the Generals Brig, turn left onto the minor road across the River Yarrow, and go uphill for approx 100metres. Then turn right into the Bowhill Estate and follow the signs.

Race HQ postcode is TD7 5ET.

Transition, Registration and Race HQ will be in the sheltered and attractive courtyard of the house. There is an adjacent and on-site cafe/tea-room, and also ‘real’ toilets (rather than a manky portable toilet!). So, a bit more suitable to bring friends and family along to spectate and a day out in the Country Park.

Car Parking will either be in a field, or on hard-standing and verges within a couple of minutes walk of Race HQ.

We’ve got a massive network of paths, forest roads, secret singletrack, tunnels, streams, brambles and all sorts of other stuff to play with.

Short is planned to have a winning time of 20 mins Mountain Bike + 20 mins Trail Run

Medium is planned to have a winning time of 30 mins Mountain Bike + 30 mins Trail Run

Long is planned to have a winning time of 40 mins Mountain Bike + 40mins Trail Run

Kit: you’ll need a roadworthy mountain bike with two working brakes, a bike helmet, and some grippy running shoes as a minimum. Oh, and some clothes. Yep – they’ll be useful to avoid hypothermia and arrest by the Selkirk police. Bear in mind that it’s winter in Scotland, so warm and waterproof will be useful to you. We might insist that full body cover (waterproof jacket plus long trousers – e.g. running tights) are carried if the weather is particularly poor. Please come prepared with this stuff, and a means of carrying them during the race.

The most important thing you’ll need to bring is a smile, and a positive approach to mud 🙂

Terms & Conditions

Please click here for details of the full Terms & Conditions associated with event entry, including refund, cancellation, withdrawal and transfer policies.

Entries are not transferable. Photographic ID may be requested at race registration.

Entrants wishing to withdraw must inform the organiser by email. Entry fees will be refunded or transferred as follows; up to (1 month prior to race date) 75% refund (less any Entry Central or SI fees), up to (2 weeks prior to race date) 50% refund (less any Entry Central or SI fees). After (2 weeks prior to race date) – no refund.

If the event is cancelled for reasons beyond the organiser’s control, (e.g. adverse weather conditions, major incident etc.) the organisers will make every reasonable attempt to reschedule the event. Original entrants will have their entry automatically transferred unless they advise Durty Events that they do not wish to transfer to the rescheduled event in writing (email to info@durtyevents.com) within 7 days of the original event date.

In the event of cancellation, original entrants may, at the sole discretion of Durty Events be offered an entry transfer of equivalent value to an alternative event in the companies’ portfolio.

In all cases, Durty Events reserves the right to charge a small administration fee (typically £5) to cover costs associated with card repayments and refund administration time.

No refunds will be granted after one month has passed from the event date.

Changes to entry details, and transfer of the entry to other events in the Durty Events portfolio may be possible with the permission of the organiser. There will be a small admin fee for this service, payable in advance. Please see the full Terms & Conditions for details.